Things to Do in Nashville in October

This post covers things to do during October in Nashville, Tennessee, including family-friendly and free activities as well as evening entertainment and live music. 

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TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER

This top 10 list has concerts, events, attractions, and festivals to check out in Music City during October.

For even more ideas, be sure to check out our master post on things to do in Nashville any time of year.

Don’t forget to check out our popular Nashville posts: 

1) Attend a Major Concert

You’ll never be without a concert to go to in Music City.

From the local acts that play in various venues every night of the week to these big-name artists, there are plenty of events to choose from.

 

 

Click here to see all Nashville music events. 

Any of these concerts would be a great way to spend an evening in Nashville. If you’re looking for other things to do at night in Music City, check out our full post. 

2) See a Sporting Event

Nashville is big into both music and sports. October is a great time to find a game to go to since multiple professional teams will be playing.

Hockey season has just started back up, and football and soccer seasons are in full swing.

 

 

Hockey

Football 

Soccer 

Basketball 

Take a look at all the games in October. 

3) Theatre and Classical Music

If you’re a fan of theatre and musicals, you’re in luck! October is bringing two fun pieces of musical theatre to town.

Click here for a list of all Nashville’s theatre events. 

 

 

Disney in Concert

Disney in Concert runs October 10 – 11, 2019, and will take you on an enjoyable jaunt through the most popular, classic Disney movie songs with a skilled orchestra.

They’ll also play some of the new favorites. This is one of the Nashville activities kids will enjoy! 

Once on This Island

Once on This Island runs October 15 – 20, 2019.

This musical originally debuted on Broadway in 1990 and tells the story of two classes of people on a Caribbean island separated by their skin tone.

A peasant orphan girl falls in love with a higher-class, light-skinned boy and this musical follows their love story. 

Don Williams with the Nashville Symphony

The Nashville Symphony will be performing a tribute to Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams’ music from October 31 – November 2, 2019.

Songs performed by the Nashville Symphony and sung by guest singers will include “Tulsa Time,” “It Must Be Love,” and “I Believe in You.” 

See all the theatre and performance arts in Nashville here. 

4) Take a Sightseeing Tour

October means pleasant, crisp weather – perfect for exploring the town.

Downtown Nashville is easily walkable, and we suggest starting your trip with a walking tour, whether you take a pay-what-you-like tour or lead yourself on our self-guided walking tour. 

 

 

Another popular option is to take a bus tour of Nashville. A hop-on hop-off tour is a convenient form of transportation as well as a great source of insider information on Music City.

You can also find fun specialty tours such as a comedy bus tour or party bus.

If you’re interested in history, we suggest a 1.5-mile walking tour through a downtown neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle of broadway that explains how African American culture is entwined with Nashville’s history and growth. 

Don’t forget to celebrate Halloween with the kid-friendly Ghost Tour at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage after hours. 

5) See Nashville’s Top Attractions

Taking a trip to Nashville in October is the perfect opportunity to see the city’s top attractions with less crowding than during the busy season of summer. 

 

 

History buffs will enjoy Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. Music lovers can tour the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.

We’ve listed some great opportunities to find live music on our post covering things to do at night, as well.

Families with kids, or those who enjoy Music City’s celebrities can visit Madame Tussauds Nashville. We have plenty of suggestions for other things to do with your kids here, too.

If you’re on a budget, check out our free activities in Nashville post.

6) Breakaway Music Festival

This unique festival is a multi-city EDM festival that will be in Nashville October 11- 12, 2019, at Fair Park. 

 

 

Friday’s headliners include Future, Lil Baby Fisher, Kaskade, Zeds Dead, and Chris Lake.

After the Saturday concert, attendees can participate in the silent disco.

If you haven’t been to a silent disco, it involves the entire crowd wearing headphones connected to the same DJ, so that only those with headsets can hear the music.

Details:

  • All-Ages Festival
  • October 11 – 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
  • October 12 – 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm
  • More information here.

7) Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival

Approximately 1 in 6 Nashville residents are foreign-born, which means there is a lot of different cultures within the city to be celebrated.

The free Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival is held on October 5, 2019, from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm in Centennial Park. 

You’ll be able to enjoy music and dance performances on multiple stages throughout the day. 

 

 

While the festival itself is free, you might want to bring money with you if you plan on enjoying the World Market vendors or the beer and food vendors that will be set up all day. 

Younger visitors won’t have a chance to get bored from the Teen’s Area with dance performances and displays of information about how teenagers of other cultures incorporate that into their lives in Nashville. 

The Children’s Area encourages kids from different backgrounds to play together with educational games, performances, and fun activities. 

If you’re looking for more budget-friendly activities, check out our free things to do post. Visitors with kids can also find things to do in our family-friendly activities post.

(8)  Have a Scary Halloween

Nashville has several annual haunted houses, parties, and celebrations during most of October. 

 

 

If you’re not in Music City during Halloween festivities you can still take a haunted pub crawl to visit local bars and hear spooky stories.

If you get a thrill at intense haunted houses, go to the popular Nashville Nightmare or Nashville Haunted Hayride. They’re generally open from the very end of September through Halloween. They do recommend that all visitors are 13 or older due to the intensity of the experience. 

Looking for more nighttime activities in Nashville? Check our full evening entertainment post. 

(9) Boo at the Zoo

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is the perfect place for some kid-friendly Halloween festivities! Boo at the Zoo is their annual trick-or-treat tradition after hours. Everyone can dress up in non-scary costumes. 

 

 

Kids can visit 10-12 treat stations, enjoy magic shows, see zookeeper presentations, and pet some smaller domestic animals. 

Details: 

Find more kid-friendly activities in Nashville on our post about things to do with the family. 

(10) Nashville Oktoberfest

 If you enjoy beer, music, and Bavarian culture, don’t miss Nashville’s Oktoberfest. It covers 10 blocks and has been running for 40 years. 

 

 

You’ll find delicious food vendors with German food, high-quality local breweries, art vendors, and more than one stage offering live German music. 

As if that weren’t enough, there will be a parade through downtown Nashville with people dressed in their finest dirndl and lederhosen after the hilariously adorable Dachshund Derby. 

Details: 

  • October 10 from 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm
  • October 11 from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
  • October 12 from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm 
  • October 13 from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
  • Click here for tickets and more info.

(11) Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass

If you’re looking to see multiple major attractions, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio B, or take any tours, we suggest using a tourist city pass to save money.

Some passes can offer up to 55% retail-price discounts for restaurants, souvenir shops, and attraction tickets. 

 

 

Featured on Various Passes: 

See our full tourist attraction discount pass comparison here.

 

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